10.03.2002  72ND GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Among the public debuts at the 72nd Geneva Motor Show were the Fiat Ulysse and Lancia Phedra MPVs, as well as the new Ferrari 575M. The new Alfa Romeo JTS engine was on display, while one of the stars of the whole show was the Alfa Romeo-badged Brera from Italdesign. Speculation was rife on the future facing Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo.

The revised Alfa Romeo 156 range was on display, including the sporty GTA Saloon & Sportwagon variants. The new petrol direct injection engine, known as the JTS, was shown, the first time that this system has been used on a production Italian car. JTS ( Jet Thrust Stoichiometric ) will be applied to the 16-valve 2.0 litre Twin Spark engine, which will however lose one spark plug per cylinder in order to acommodate the direct injection. Power is increased by over 10% to 165 bhp, torque increases by 15%.

Speculation regarding the recent seperation of Alfa Romeo from Lancia dominates the Alfa display. Theory has it that Alfa Romeo has been seperated to strengthen the brand, prior to it joining Ferrari and Maserati in a Ford style Premier Brands company, or conversly that it may be sold to General Motors to help reduce Fiats debt mountain.

The facelifted 550 Maranello, the 575M, was unveiled on the Ferrari stand. With increased engine capacity to 5.75 litres, power up to 515 bhp, the 575M sees Ferrari's F1-style paddle gearshift introduced for the first time on a V12 engine.

The Ulysse MPV makes its public debut, a joint project sharing a platform with the Lancia Phedra ( also making its debut ) and Peugeot and Citroen variants. More distinctive than the model it replaces, the front and rear end follow styling cues introduced on the Doblo.

Fiat has pushed forward the launch of the Ulysse at the expense of other models and is banking it selling in much higher numbers than its poor selling predecessor.
 

images of the Fiat Ulysse at the Geneva Motor Show >>>

The stunning Alfa Romeo-badged "Brera" coupe was one of the show's stars. Heavily based on the Maserati Coupe, it draws on a proposed 4 litre plus Alfa Romeo engine rumoured to be under developement. see the Italdesign Brera at the Geneva Motor Show >>>

The Phedra MPV, replacement for the Zeta, makes its public debut on the Lancia stand. Lancia are relying on the Phedra, which will slot into the top of the MPV market segment, to boost marque fortunes which saw a 13% contraction of sales in 2001, the Phedra's predecessor, the Zeta accounted for a dismal 1,700 units last year.

With the launch of the Thesis some months away still, speculation surrounds why Lancia did not become a seperate brand in Fiats restructuring and its attachment to Fiat may see the marque eventually phased out with models not being replaced.
 

images of the Lancia Phedra at the Geneva Motor Show >>>

The new Coupe makes its European debut, after its US launch a month ago. On display is the F1-style hydraulic gearbox now fitted to the Coupe.

Specialist supercar manufacturer, Pagani presented a revised Zonda C12S at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. Fitted with a larger 7.3-litre Mercedes-Benz engine, the new Zonda also features traction control, ABS and revised aerodynamics. more >>>